Open University lecturers in contract row - union

The Open University employs more than 4,000 lecturers and is based in Milton Keynes

Unions representing staff at The Open University (OU) have said "award-winning" lecturers are leaving over what they claim are proposals to "fire and rehire" tutors to solve historical contract issues.

Kit Power, who has worked for the OU for 20 years, said it was like using a "sledgehammer to crack a nut" and added unions have been "working with management for over a decade to reduce overwork".

A spokesperson for the institution, which is based in Milton Keynes and employs more than 4,000 lecturers, said: "We strongly disagree with this characterisation."

They added some staff had "accrued contracts that would see them working in excess of 100 hours per week", which "they do not believe is good for the OU or students".

Union representative Kit Power said the OU proposals were like "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut"

The university began consulting more than a year ago when, according to unions, more than 160 associate lecturers were asked either to sign a new contract or be fired and then rehired on a lower salary.

The BBC understands 21 have refused to sign new contracts.

Mr Power, a representative from the University and College Union (UCU), said it was "completely unprecedented" for the OU to consider this.

"It is a very serious situation because everyone is worried if they get away with it once, then they will do it again," he said.

He said the union was seeking legal advice and considering industrial action.

A spokesperson for the Open University said, in conjunction with the UCU, it had converted contracts "for more than 4,000 casually employed associate lecturers on to a more permanent basis in 2022".

They added they "remain puzzled" that unions were "defending this practice whilst at the same time launching campaigns about excessive workloads".

The spokesperson denied the OU was doing this to offer lower salaries, but instead wanted to offer "manageable hours at the same rate, with a transition period over two years and compensatory payments".

They said the institution had held talks with ACAS, the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, to see if there was an alternative to the proposals but that this had not changed the situation.